Groton Rotary Awards Scholarships to Local Students

The Groton Rotary Club has awarded a total of $5,000 in academic scholarships to two local high school students and one working adult student.

“The Groton Rotary Club is honored to award college scholarships to three highly meritorious students who have already become admirable examples of “service above self,” said Cathy Lathrop, chairperson of the Scholarship Committee. A $2,000 scholarship was presented to Fitch Senior High School senior Alex Kelleher, who will be attending Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute and plans to major in electrical engineering.

A second $2,000 scholarship was awarded to Vernecia Dula, a student at the Ella T. Grasso Technical High School.  She will be attending Roger Williams University and intends to major in architecture.

The adult recipient is Chad Potter, who attended Three Rivers Community college in Norwich, where he studied criminal justice.  He will be attending the University of New Haven this fall in pursuit of his Bachelor’s Degree and then on to law school.

Kelleher is a member of the National Honor Society and attended American Legion Boys State.  He received the Principals Award for outstanding commitment to education, the Science Department Achievement Award and completed an Arduino-Based Multi-media English project.

Kelleher is also a Boys Scouts of America Senior Patrol Leader, a Sea Scouts Assistant Crew Leader, and the captain of the First Robotic Team Varsity.

Dula is a member of the Grasso Tech National Honor Society.  She received the Sportsmanship Award for Tennis, was a Senior Mentor, Treasurer of Youth Choir, Dance Team and Choir Member.

Potter is a Dean’s List student, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and a member of Project Outreach.

Cathy Lathrop is the Chairperson of the Groton Rotary Club Scholarship committee. Other committee members are Lee Vincent and Lea Doran.

The Groton Rotary Club is a community organization dedicated to the theme, “Service Above Self”, and welcomes new members. Persons, who are interested in joining the club should visit the club’s web site at grotonrotary.org or contact a local Rotarian. You may also contact Club President John Scott by e-mailing him at john27@me.com.